Whatever happened to cheap fast food items?

[Moliphino]

Labor costs (across the supply chain) have gone up. People argue for paying a sustainable wage (and I totally agree) but people don't seem to realize that prices will go up. If we used to pay someone $8/ hour to make 100 widgets, that's 12.5¢ per widget labor. If we now pay them $16/hour to make 100 widgets, that's 25¢ per widget labor. That more expensive widget goes to the next step in the supply chain as a more expensive input and labor at that step is also higher. And so on.
And then we scream "INFLATION" as if it is a surprise. Come on folks, take an Econ 101 class!

Prices will go up regardless. Any excuse to raise prices and increase profits.

 

[tony67]

Prices will go up regardless. Any excuse to raise prices and increase profits.

Prices will go up, but they go up even quicker when you raise the cost to produce and deliver.

But if people are only willing to pay 15 or 20 cents per widget, that's all you can sell it for. Doesn't matter what it costs to make.

Then its time to shut down the business isn't it, which also seems to be happening quite a bit more than people seem to want to admit. If you cant make a profit or just break even even then its time to walk away, and lots of places are doing that. Family restaurants that have been around for decades - its just not worth it anymore.

 

[Debbie Jean]

When I get a craving, I get Wendy’s 4 for $4… small cheeseburger, 4 chicken nuggets, small fries and soda. That is, for a number of reasons, actually 2 meals for me. Not something I do often for health reasons but an economical treat nonetheless.

 

[Moliphino]

Then its time to shut down the business isn't it, which also seems to be happening quite a bit more than people seem to want to admit. If you cant make a profit or just break even even then its time to walk away, and lots of places are doing that. Family restaurants that have been around for decades - its just not worth it anymore.

You don't really have a viable business if you can't pay your employees enough to live and not need government assistance.

 

[focusondisney]

Prices will go up regardless. Any excuse to raise prices and increase profits.

Prices will go up, but they go up even quicker when you raise the cost to produce and deliver.

I think you’re both right. Companies care about profits over people. Look at how high the corporate profits were for gas & oil companies the last few years. Record high profits while gas prices skyrocketed. Companies do what they need to to keep their stock prices where they want them. CEOs are certainly not about to take salary & benefit cuts to keep profits up. So they raise prices or layoff employees. If costs of doing business goes up more, they just do those things faster or more often.

 

[HerRoyalHighness]

These are my current McDs app specials. I don't eat from here but my kids will occasionally ask. My thing is usually a Wendy's Dave's triple (no toppings or bun) but that's close to $9 so it's an I have no other choice option.

 

[QueenIsabella]

We rarely go to McDonald's. A cheeseburger and small fries is over $5 no thanks.

Our local Market Kitchen (in Market Basket grocery store) in NH has a cheeseburger and fries for $2.99. They make it to order with your choice of cheese and any/all condiments/vegies and it is a 1/4 lb. When they don't have enough fries you can get potato wedges or sometimes sweet potato wedges. They have given us onion rings a few times.

They also bake fresh and huge pizzas. You can get 1/4 pizza (they call it a "slice" LOL) for $2.99 for cheese and up for extra toppings.

It is delicious and you can't beat the price and we are supporting a local business.

Sigh! I miss Market Basket! I don't remember if ours had a Market Kitchen--I did my shopping there on Thursday mornings. But, they had reasonable prices, good specials, and friendly employees.

Signed, a former New Hampshire resident.

 

[PolymerSkywalker]

We are a very lazy society in the US. No one wants to prepare a meal at home from scratch to save a few bucks. Much easier to eat unhealthy McDonalds instead, and yes the prices are out of sight. My go to is the 4 for $4 at Wendy’s. I can do that with a small chili instead of fries for lunch. I brown bag it most days, but that’s my other option at a reasonable price.

You can still eat very economically if you are willing to learn to cook from scratch. Taste better and is significantly healthier.

 

[tony67]

Companies care about profits over people.

I don't disagree with that, they will charge what the market will pay. They don't care about customers and they don't care about employees, no matter what they tell you - you are not family.

 

[disneychrista]

Around here the prices have gone up (again) due to the new $20/hr fast food minimum wage. I still want to know what makes fast food more deserving than say the checker at Kohl’s who is only getting $16/hr.

 

[tony67]

We are a very lazy society in the US. No one wants to prepare a meal at home from scratch to save a few bucks. Much easier to eat unhealthy McDonalds instead, and yes the prices are out of sight. My go to is the 4 for $4 at Wendy’s. I can do that with a small chili instead of fries for lunch. I brown bag it most days, but that’s my other option at a reasonable price.

You can still eat very economically if you are willing to learn to cook from scratch. Taste better and is significantly healthier.

Yeah - I don't get the eating out every day.

Starbucks is a crazy amount of money if you go every day. The same folks will tell me I'm crazy for spending $1000 on an express maker that I have now used for over 10 years - that is basically 1 year of Starbucks (maybe more like 8 months)

You can get decent microwavable meals at places like Trader Joe's. You can buy meats when they are on sale. There are lots of alternatives, but people don't have the time or think they cant cook.

I can get boneless chicken for 1.99 a pound most of the time. When I make a meal I always make way more than I need and vacuum seal them in portions and microwave them when I need them. It's not that hard just find a recipe and follow it. Anyone can cook, some people just don't like to.

 

[tony67]

Around here the prices have gone up (again) due to the new $20/hr fast food minimum wage. I still want to know what makes fast food more deserving than say the checker at Kohl’s who is only getting $16/hr.

It's not an across the board minimum wage? That seems unusual and I'd think Kohls would have to then pay more to compete.

Edit: That is crazy - many of them just wont have jobs - technology will replace them. I've already seen waitstaff be replaced with screens in Europe - those were one offs pre pandemic - but its actually really nice. You don't have to flag down staff to order another drink.


There are already machines to flip burgers, and you can order on your phone. They could even have you show a code to a machine for it to give you your order. They dont need people - and at that price why bother with people.
But you still have to tip - there was an episode of X-files about that.

 

[focusondisney]

Around here the prices have gone up (again) due to the new $20/hr fast food minimum wage. I still want to know what makes fast food more deserving than say the checker at Kohl’s who is only getting $16/hr.

Or care workers at nursing homes & day cares.

 

[kdonnel]

I wonder if the rise of Foodies and Foodie culture has had an affect?

If a large part of the population would rather spend a little more to get quality food rather than cheap food does that mean that the cheap food needs to get more expensive through improved quality to appeal to enough people? Or is it because fewer people are buying it that the price has to rise due to a loss of economy of scale?

I know I am much more willing to pay for good food that I am willing to pay less for bad food.

I am a quality over quantity person.

I think there are fewer quantity over quality people now than there were 20 years ago.

 

[focusondisney]

It's not an across the board minimum wage? That seems unusual and I'd think Kohls would have to then pay more to compete.

Not sure where disneychrista is, but in NY, the NY city area has different minimum wages than the rest of the state.

 

[bcla]

The best I can do is 2 Whopper Juniors for $5, when I get a coupon.

Doesn’t require a coupon. They used to have more variety though, including bacon and cheese add ons.

 

[Smugpugmug]

I wonder if the rise of Foodies and Foodie culture has had an affect?

If a large part of the population would rather spend a little more to get quality food rather than cheap food does that mean that the cheap food needs to get more expensive through improved quality to appeal to enough people? Or is it because fewer people are buying it that the price has to rise due to a loss of economy of scale?

I know I am much more willing to pay for good food that I am willing to pay less for bad food.

I am a quality over quantity person.

I think there are fewer quantity over quality people now than there were 20 years ago.

Not necessarily fast food but this is my mentality for "mid tier" restaurants. If I'm choosing to go out to eat, I'm going to a locally owned place rather than Applebees, Olive Garden, Outback, etc. Doesn't help that those mid tier chains are the same price or even more expensive than the locally owned restaurants.

 

[tony67]

I wonder if the rise of Foodies and Foodie culture has had an affect?

If a large part of the population would rather spend a little more to get quality food rather than cheap food does that mean that the cheap food needs to get more expensive through improved quality to appeal to enough people? Or is it because fewer people are buying it that the price has to rise due to a loss of economy of scale?

I know I am much more willing to pay for good food that I am willing to pay less for bad food.

I am a quality over quantity person.

I think there are fewer quantity over quality people now than there were 20 years ago.

Id agree, but where is this quality you speak of?

It seems for the most part its more about how the photo looks than the actual taste.
I've had a lot of dishes that look amazing, but are just average at best.

I've pretty much gone from eating out at least once a week to once in a great while.
I can do better at home, and most people can if they just follow the instructions and buy the ingredients.

 

[TippyThomas]

I've got many mom and pop type diners around me and I eat at them often. I don't enjoy cooking and cooking for one is difficult as well. I probably eat at the diners around me much more than I do at home. It also lets me be a bit more social as well so that is a bonus too.

 

[bcla]

These are my current McDs app specials. I don't eat from here but my kids will occasionally ask. My thing is usually a Wendy's Dave's triple (no toppings or bun) but that's close to $9 so it's an I have no other choice option.
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Our app specials in most of the San Francisco Bay Area are very limited. I remember one where it was almost every sandwich on the menu for $1, but once a day. Then once a week. Then $2 once a week. Then gone. Obviously they weren’t making money. I can be on the road and the deals change. I remember when there were tie ins to local sports teams, and those change. Visiting Seattle once I saw BOGO Happy Meals.

But we still have some app deals that require a $1 or $2 minimum purchase. Getting that isn’t as easy these days. No more $1 coffee or soft drink, and the two locations closest to my home have a city soda tax and cup fee.

I did go to BK to try to get the free item for a $1 minimum spend. They do have cookies, but I had to wait for them in the morn8ng.